Director SLM Captain Ron Westrate From First Call 2 Charters reports from Saugatuck: Limit catches, best describes the fishing this past week. 95% to 99% of
the catch is lake trout with the rest being an occasional salmon or
steelhead. The lake trout are ranging from 3 to 14 pounds and are being
caught from 60 to 90 foot of water. Metal flashers and spin n glos were
definitely the best combination when run on the bottom. 150 and 200
copper with Stingray lures also produced some lake trout and salmon.
High divers at 100 foot with white/glow and silver/mountain dew Pro
Troll flashers and Rapture green hypnotist flies also produced an
occasional lake trout or salmon, however the best method were the metal
flashers.
For more information or to book a charter, email me at
captron@chartermichigan.com.
This past weekend produced some fantastic results. Saturday we kept 22
fish and returned another 4. Sunday we kept 19 fish and returned 3
others. The vast … [Read more...]

Director SLM Captain Ron Westrate From First Call 2 Charters reports from Saugatuck:
This past weekend produced some fantastic results. Saturday we kept 22 fish and returned another 4. Sunday we kept 19 fish and returned 3 others. The vast majority of the fish are lake trout, however there are a few salmon and steelhead mixed in. The best location was 65 to 75 foot of water and we fished from the surface to the bottom. Most of the salmon were caught on 150 foot of copper with Stingray size lures with green and orange colors. The steelhead hit small orange crush stingers on the surface while most of the lake trout were taken with metal flashers and spin n glos on the bottom. We did take some fish with 11 in Pro Troll UV flashers and UV Rapture flies at 50 foot. Tomorrow we have the "Kids Outing" when 20 boats out of Saugatuck take out 65-70 6th grade students from Saugatuck Middle School. The students have been participating in the "Salmon in the Classroom" project and as a … [Read more...]

Director SLM Captain Ron Westrate From First Call 2 Charters reports from Saugatuck:
A very good week for fishing out of Saugatuck. The water temperature is still in the low 40 degrees and the fish are scattered from the top to the bottom. Early in the week we fished in 10 to 20 foot of water and caught some small salmon and a half dozen brown trout (one going over 12 pounds). Sunday we fished from 50 to 70 foot of water and caught 22 lake trout and 7 chinook salmon. The lake trout ranged from 5 pounds to 15 pounds but the salmon all weighed less than 2 pounds each. Metal flashers and green spin n glos on the bottom, produced most of the lake trout while the salmon were caught on small stingers on 30 ft, 75 ft, 100 ft. and 150 ft. copper. Our bigger salmon have not yet shown up in our water, however as the water warms, we should see more and larger salmon and steelhead in the creel. If you are interested in booking a charter or just want information, email me at … [Read more...]

Director SLM Captain Ron Westrate From First Call 2 Charters reports from Saugatuck:
This past week produced some more high winds and rough water and as a result the lake has cooled down drastically. We have been waiting for the cool water to allow the Chinook to stage in front of the piers for the spawning run, however, as of this weekend there is no large scale movement into the river. Wednesday and Saturday we were blown off, however on Sun day we did fish in front the piers and caught a half dozen salmon. The water was 48 degrees on the surface and 44 degrees on the bottom in 20 foot. Boats that moved off shore to 80 and 100 foot also found 48 degrees on the surface.
In the shallow water, we fished almost all Ace Hi plugs in a variety of colors from the surface to 50 foot of copper and on downriggers run from 5 to 15 foot down. Boats that fished off shore fished the surface with 3 color lead core down to the bottom with metal flashers and Spin n … [Read more...]

Director SLM Captain Ron Westrate From First Call 2 Charters reports from Saugatuck:
This past week was a story of rough water, high winds and canceled charters. Out of 6 scheduled charters we ended up running 2, however the fishing, when we could get out there was fairly good with a mixed bag of salmon and lake trout. Even with the north winds, the water remained in the 70 degree range down to 50 foot and then broke into the 40’s.
The methods and lures remain the same as last week with 200, 300 and 400 copper and the dipsy divers at 150 and 100 foot out producing most of the salmon. The majority of the lake trout were taken off the downriggers on the bottom.
The week is forecasted to have temperatures in the low 60’s which usually means the wind should be out of the north. With a north wind and current, the water temperatures should decrease which should move the fish to the piers. For more information and charter reservations, contact me at … [Read more...]

The steelhead bite is still going strong on the southern ports of Lake Michigan. Kings, coho and lake trout mixed into the bag. If you like to fish for these sky-rocking beauties now is the time! … [Read more...]

Director SLM Captain Ron Westrate From First Call 2 Charters reports from Saugatuck:
The week started with outstanding fishing with limit mixed bag catches in 110-160 FOW. The number of salmon increased and the number of lake trout decreased in the creel composition. In the middle of the week the fishing slowed and this weekend we went back into 70-100 FOW and caught good numbers of lake trout with some kings and steelhead mixed in. This week's best combinations were: orange crush Stingers on 100 coppers, mixed veggie UV and Craig's reverse x-mas on 150 coppers, and chrome blue Protroll with blue bubble Rapture fly and green glow Ace-hi plug, On the longer coppers we ran green double glow and white double glow Protroll flashers w. hypnotist flies. Superfrog and Davy Jones Protroll flashers w. Rapture Wild fern flies on the divers produced very well at 160 and 100 foot out. On the dodgers we ran chrome and tin can dodgers w white pink dot spin and glows for the trout on … [Read more...]

Director SLM Captain Ron Westrate From First Call 2 Charters reports from Saugatuck:
The Kings have shown up in Saugatuck. What a difference from the first part of the week to the weekend with creels containing more and more Chinook salmon each day. We started the week with very cold water and catches consisting of mainly Lake Trout but a few salmon and steelhead in the mix. By the weekend the catches consisted of limit catches of Chinook salmon and Steelhead and an occasional Lake Trout mixed in. On Saturday, our group from Louisville, Ky. Caught 25 fish of which only 3 were Lake Trout. That group, (fishing 3 days) took over 400 pounds of fillets back to Louisville to feed the friends and families.
The salmon and steelhead are being caught from 10 to 50 foot down in 100 to 160 foot of water. 50 foot, 100 foot, 200 foot, and 300 foot of copper with orange stingers, Silver Horde plugs and flashers and flies all produced well at different times during the day. Down riggers 40 and … [Read more...]

Director SLM Captain Ron Westrate From First Call 2 Charters reports from Saugatuck:
Big changes in the fishing this past week. On Wednesday, we had a strong blow with with 4 to 8 foot seas and winds out of the north. The surface water cooled from 70 degrees to 49 degrees in shallow water and 52 degrees in the 100 foot depth we have been fishing. It was 39 degrees on the bottom and 15 foot down was 44 degrees. Big change in temperature for the fish and the bite was slowed somewhat. Our creel numbers ranged from 6 to 12 fish per trip with most of the creel consisting of lake trout. This was somewhat disappointing since the salmon we just beginning to add to the creel. As the lake stabilized, by this past weekend, we started taking 2 to 4 salmon and steelhead each trip.
Once again the lake trout were primarily taken with green Spin n Glos pulled behind tin can and white Gold Star Flashers. The salmon and steelhead were caught on silver and silver and green plugs … [Read more...]

Captains fishing the Muskegon area are reporting some nice size brown trout being caught along with salmon and steelhead. Here are a few from Geting Bit Guide Service and Captain Kyle Buck from Great Lakes Guide Service. Nice looking fish! … [Read more...]

Captain Brett Payne from Hot Spot charters of Grand Haven reports the steelhead fishing is outstanding right now. Many hookups. Steelhead are a challenge for even the most experienced anglers. … [Read more...]

Director SLM Captain Ron Westrate From First Call 2 Charters reports from Saugatuck:
Limit catches of Late Trout along with a mixture of salmon and steelhead made up the creel this past week. We had catches of 10 to 20 fish each day during the week and each day has some silver fish (salmon and steelhead) in the mix, in addition to catching and returning 3 to 6 undersize fish each trip. Fishing in the 85 to 100 foot depth, the lake trout are running up to 17+ pounds with most in the 8 to 12 pound range. Once again there were some reports of some salmon and steelhead being caught out in the 220 to 260 foot depth, however they were scattered over a large area and change location from day to day.
If you saw last weeks report, the methods remain the same. The best method for the lake trout was Gold Star dodgers and Spin n Glos run on the downriggers and dipsy divers on the bottom. When the salmon or steelhead hit they were on Hot Wire and Super Frog Stinger flashers and green … [Read more...]

Fishing is picking up on The Joe! Water still a little dirty and leaves were a challenge this past weekend! Team Lil Ho was fortunate to muster a team 3 fish limit to win the Battle Creek Steelheaders River Tournament over the Thanksgiving weekend! Also taking the Big Fish with a 9.14 Buck Steelie! #YakiamaMagLip took the 2 large fish and the skipper came on spawn! I credit #OkumaLowProfile LC for helping keeping the right length for less leaves and getting bit! Thanks BC Steelheaders for hosting! ... See MoreSee Less

BeautiesBig ones 2 at a time! I have a few days left in November and December but not many. My January and February are mostly open as of now for those that like good fishing and do not mind the cold. 616-570-2946 ... See MoreSee Less

At our annual business meeting Captain Mike Darke received an award for "Acts of Heroism and Bravery".

"On behalf of fellow members of the Ludington Charter Boat Association and Michigan Charter Boat Association in recognition of bravery and heroism. On July 18, 2017, Mike and his crew aboard Lie A Lot Charters, rescued five people from their burning and sinking boat on Lake Michigan waters, near Ludington Michigan. His quick thinking actions and servant attitude saved the lives of these individuals." ... See MoreSee Less

I'm disappointed that they don't open the weirs back up on the Little Manistee. Past several years there have been no salmon or steelhead getting through upstream to naturally spawn. Very Sad. Who is responsible for keeping the Weir closed ??

Doug, Jerry, and Steve from the Ann Arbor and Lewiston area had a great afternoon on the big pond. 5 different species hit the deck including 4 Kings, 2 Steelhead, an Atlantic Salmon, a giant 15# Sheephead, and an uneducated seagull. What a mess the bird made with tangling up 7 lines before we got it straightened out. The crew left with some fine eating fillets for the table. We we definitely be chasing some more of these delicious treats very soon. Mixed bag Fishing at it's finest. Tight Lines All. CBC

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The Michigan Charter Boat Association represents over 600 professional captains that serve over 100 ports in Michigan. As one of Michigan's largest recreational organizations, member captains operate fishing charters on the Great Lakes, River Guides on Michigan's thousands of miles of steams and rivers, Sail boat charters out of many Michigan ports of call, Scuba Dive charters in Michigan's shipwreck dive preserves, and scenic cruises exploring the beauty of Michigan's shoreline, lighthouses, or a lake vacation adventure. These businesses contribute to Michigan's tourism economy and are vital to the region. Michigan Charter Boat Association Captains and their vessels meet all state and federal laws.